Detonator holder

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for holding an explosive charge in place at the outlet of a gas filled chamber. A holding means which may be provided with a plurality of legs, is provided with a receptacle means to accommodate and keep stationary the explosive charge, against the outlet, inside the chamber. Means are provided on the inside surface of the chamber to accommodate the legs, if provided, to assist in keeping the holding means and thus the explosive charge, stationary.

0 HI, I United States [191 [111 3,746,214 Ste henson 5] Jul R7 11973 DETONATOR HOLDER 3,599,567 8/l97l Graham et a1. .5 102/211; [75] Inventor: Robert L. Stephenson, Sterling FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPUCATIONS fights, 998,757 7/1965 Canada 102 21 {73] Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation, New

YOrk, Primary Examiner-Stanlcy H. Tollberg [22] Filed y 15 197i Att0rney-J0nathan Plaut 1 I. N 2 9 [2 1 App 0 l6 8 57 ABSTRACT An apparatus for holding an explosive charge in place 222/3 102/213 at the outlet of a gas filled chamber. A holding means [58] Fieid 21 which may be provided with a plurality of legs, is pro- 280/150 vided with a receptacle means to accommodate and keep stationary the explosive charge, against the outlet, inside the chamber. Means are provided on the inside [56] References Clted surface of the chamber to accommodate the legs, if UNITED STATES PATENTS provided, to assist in keeping the holding means and EL= S -J-tthus the explosive charge, stationary. n 3,046,886 7/1962 Joslin 102/213 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented July 17, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet l AMA? QOE

l N VENTOR ROBERT L.. STEPH EINSON AT TORNEY Pate med Jul 17, 1973 2 Sheets-Shoot 2 INVENTOR. ROBERT L. STEPHENSON ATTORNEY.

DETONATOR HOLDER BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE The instant invention is directed to an apparatus for holding an explosive charge in place. More specifically, the instant invention is directed to an apparatus for holding an explosive charge in place at the outlet of a gas filled chamber. Still more specifically, the instant invention is directed to an apparatus for holding an explosive charge in place at the outlet of a gas filled chamber in communication with an inflatable gas bag.

Problems associated with voluntary restraint systems in motor vehicles have become more serious in recent years. Specifically, the non-use of seat belts has resulted in many serious injuries that could have been prevented had the vehicle occupant been restrained. Thus, much effort has been expended to design a system that would restrain vehicle occupants automatically upon collision of the vehicle. The most promising of these systems is the inflatable gas bag restraint system.

In all the suggested embodiments of an inflatable gas bag system, means are provided to supply the gas to the inflatable gas bag. Whether the gas is provided in a compressed gas cylinder, or whether the gas is generated by the combustion of a combustible material, or a combination of the two methods, the gas must be re leased to the inflatable gas upon impact or collision of the vehicle. One preferred method to accomplish this purpose is an explosive charge placed inside the chamber in which the gas is stored or generated. The charge is exploded upon impact of the vehicle, to rupture the sealing means and release the gas which, in turn, inflates the bag.

In the prior art, this important feature necessary to the successful use of inflatable gas bag assemblies presented a difficult problem. The explosive charge is usually held to an outlet plug or disc at the downstream end of the gas chamber by plaster, cement, a rubber molding compound or the like. These glue type fasteners are subject to loss of holding power due to vibrational forces. Since these assemblies are disposed in motor vehicles the glue type fasteners are subject to considerable vibration. As a result, unfastening of explosive charges has become a problem which may resuit in a malfunction in which the inflatable bag fails to inflate upon collision of the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The instant invention is directed to an explosive charge holding means assembly which stations the explosive charge in place at the downstream end of a gas chamber, independent of the vibrational forces imposed upon the assembly. In accordance with the instant invention, an explosive charge holding means is provided, inside the gas chamber, at the outlet and thereof. The holding means includes a body portion provided with at least one opening to accommodate at least one explosive charge. The assembly is further provided with wedge means to keep the assembly stationary inside the gas chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The instant invention may be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the holding means of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the holding means of the instant invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation view of the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 shown in a gas chamber;

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation view of the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 disposed in a gas chamber;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of still another preferred embodiment of the holding means of the instant invention; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional elevation view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 disposed in a gas chamber.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Turning now to the drawings in detail, in FIG. I the holding means of the instant invention is generally indicated at 2. The holding means 2,, a hold-down assembly, comprises a body member generally indicated at 4. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. I, the body portion 4 comprises an upper section 3 having an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of a lower section 5. The difference in diameters permit the stationing of a flat disc 6, preferably a washer, of the same material as the rest of the assembly 2, about the upper section 3. The disc 6 abuts against the lower section 5. Such an arrangement provides removability of the disc 6. The body member 4 is provided with a uni form opening 9, closed at one end, within the body portion 4. An explosive charge, cylindrical in shape, is disposed in this opening. A narrow cut 23 is preferably provided in the body portion to permit a snug fit for the charge without cracking the member.

In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 the holddown assembly 2 is itself held stationary by wedge means. In this preferred embodiment two wedge means are provided. The first wedge means comprises a plurality of legs 8 which extend from the body member 4. In this embodiment three legs stationed apart are employed. As will be described below any number of legs in excess of one may be provided. The legs 8 are flexible so that they may be narrowed to fit inside the inner diameter of a gas chamber. The legs are, thereafter, allowed to spread apart against the inside surface of the chamber to hold the assembly 2, and the explosion charge disposed therein, stationary.

The flat circular disc 6 provides a second wedge means. It is removably disposed over the narrower section 3 of the body portion 4 to further assure stability of the assembly 2. The disc 6 is wedged against the inside surface of the chamber to help keep the assembly 2 stationary. A narrow slit 2] having a length approximately equal to the radius of the disc 6, may be cut into the disc to again help accommodate the explosive charge and also assist in wedging of the disc 6 into the inside surface of the chamber in which it is disposed.

FIG. 2 illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the holding means of the instant invention which is preferred when two explosive charges are employed. The holding means comprises a hold-down assembly 50 which includes a body portion generally indicated at 54. The body portion 54 is provided with two openings 53 and 55, closed at one end, to accommodate two explosive charges. In a preferred embodiment the openings 53 and 55 are cylindrically shaped to accommodate cylindrically shaped explosive charges. As in the previous embodiment, the body portion 54 may be provided with a cut 25 to provide room for expansion of the openings 53 and 55 to permit a snug, stationary fit of the explosive charge. Unlike the hold-down assembly 2, the outer diameter of the body portion 54 is approximately equal to the inside diameter of the gas chamber in which it is disposed. Thus, the outer diameter provides a first wedge means to prevent movement of the assembly 50. Two small sized holes 57 and 59 are provided between the bottom of the body portion 54 and the closed end of openings 53 and 55 respectively, to permit electrical communication to the charges. A similar opening, to provide the same function, is included in the assembly 2 at 11.

A second wedge means is provided by a plurality of legs 58 which are connected to and extend from the body portion 54. In the preferred embodiment illustrated at 50, two legs, disposed 180 apart, are employed. Again, the legs are flexible, capable of being squeezed together and thereafter being released to extend against the inside surface of the chamber to hold the assembly 50 stationary.

It should be appreciated that various features of the two preferred embodiments described above may be combined to provide additional embodiments within the scope of the instant invention. For example, the hold-down assembly 52 may be provided with three or more legs, while the assembly 2 may include only two legs.

It should furthermore be appreciated that although the above description infers a cylindrical construction to the holding means, portions of the holding means may take other geometric shapes without departing from the scope of the instant invention.

A third preferred embodiment of the instant invention still further simplifies the design of the hold-down assembly of the instant invention. This embodiment is depicted in FIG. 5. The hold-down assembly generally indicated at 60 includes a body portion 62 for accommodation of an explosive charge. The body portion 62 includes opening 63 for insertion of the charge, at one end, and a second smaller opening 64 at the other end to station the charge while maintaining means for electrical communication to the charge. A narrow slit 65 is provided along the length of the body portion 62 to permit wedging of the explosive charge in the body portion 62 to thus assure a stationary fit of the charge.

The hold-down assembly 60 is also provided with wedge means to engage the inside surface of a chamber in which it is disposed. In this embodiment the sole wedge means are provided by a cylindrically shape member 66 integrally connected to the body portion '62.'The outside diameter of member 66 is approximately the same as that of the inside diameter of the gas chamber in which it is disposed. The cylindrical shaped member 66 is provided with the open slit 65 which continues in single line along the length of the assembly 60. Again the slit 65 helps in wedging the explosive charge into the opening provided in the body portion 62 and also in wedging the assembly 60 into the gas chamber.

In each preferred embodiment the holding means is preferably constructed of hard plastic. Alternately, the holding means may be constructed of a lightweight metal such as aluminum.

The holding means depicted in FIG. 1 is shown, in FIG. 3, disposed inside a gas chamber, generally indicated at 10. The assembly 2 is shown disposed adjacent the downstream end of the chamber 10. The chamber 10 is closed at this end by a rupture disc 16. The body portion 4 is disposed adjacent disc 16 with an explosive charge 18 held stationary inside the opening 9 formed in the body portion 4.

The assembly 2 is held stationary in the chamber 10 primarily by the wedging effect of the plurality of legs 8 disposed in an indentation 14 provided on the inside face of the wall 12 of the chamber 10. The indentations 14 may comprise a single circular groove provided on the inside surface of the wall 12. Such a single groove has the advantage of being usable with a hold-down assembly with any number of legs. Alt'emately, a plurality of indentations, of a size sufficient to accommodate a single leg, and equal in number to the number of legs provided on the hold-down assembly may be provided.

A second means by which the holding means is held stationary is also illustrated in FIG. 3. The flat disc 6 wedges against the inside face of the housing 12. In the case of the hold-down assembly 50 the outer diameter of the body portion 54 wedges the assembly 50 against the inside face of the chamber housing 12.

In FIG. 4 the holding means 50 is shown disposed in the downstream end of the gas chamber 10. As shown, the holding means 50 holding two explosive charges 18, is held stationary inside the housing 12. However, certain modifications have been made in this embodiment.

The most obvious modification is the provision for two explosive charges. To provide for this the body portion 54 is strengthened and widened. The body por tion is provided with an annular taper 56. This feature permits easy disposal of the assembly 50 into the chamber 10, while at the same time providing a wedging effect to keep the assembly 50 stationary inside the gas chamber 10. In this regard, it should be noted that the maximum external dimension of the body portion 54 is approximately equal to the inside diameter of the hous ing l2.

A second difference relates to the number of legs 58 appended from the bocy portion 54. In this embodiment two legs 58 are wedged against indentations provided in the inside surface of the housing 12. Of course, the number of legs 58 extending from thebody portion 54 is a matter of design and may be varied depending on strength and space considerations.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 is shown disposed in the downstream end of the gas chamber 10. As in the first embodiment the assembly 60 is capable of holding a. single explosive charge 18.

The assembly 60, however, differs from assembly 2, as well as assembly 50, in the cylindrical member 66 serves as the sole wedging means to hold the assembly 60 in place inside the gas chamber 10. The use of the cylindrical member 66 replaces the leg members of the other two embodiments.

In operation, the charge 18 is exploded by a signal communicated to the charge 18 by a wire 19, disposed through holes 57 and 59, 64 or 11, which communicates an electrical signal from a sensor (not shown). The sensor initiates the signal to explode the charge 18 upon collision of the vehicle in which the gas chamber 10 is disposed. The explosive charge 18 blows out the rupture disc 16 (as well as breaking apart the assembly 2.50 or 60) permitting gas, stored and/or generated in thegas chamber 10, to flow into a inflatable gas bag (not shown) in communication with the outlet of the gas chamber 10.

The description of the preferred embodiments of the instant invention, given above, will make apparent other embodiments and modifications within the scope and spirit of the instant invention. The scope of the instant invention should, therefore, be limited only by the 5 appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. An assembly to hold an explosive charge disposed in a gas chamber comprising a body portion provided with at least one opening to accommodate at least one explosive charge; a first wedge means comprising a disc connected to said assembly is constructed of hard plastic. 

1. An assembly to hold an explosive charge disposed in a gas chamber comprising a body portion provided with at least one opening to accommodate at least one explosive charge; a first wedge means comprising a disc connected to said body portion wedgingly engaging the inside surface of said gas chamber; and a second wedge means comprising a plurality of legs extending from said body portion wedgingly engaging the inside surface of said gas chamber.
 2. An assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein three legs extend from said body portion to wedgingly engage the inside surface of said gas chamber.
 3. An assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said assembly is constructed of hard plastic. 